Former Morris resident takes own life while being chased by police

By MORRIS DAILY HERALD

June 27, 2014

LASALLE COUNTY – A former Morris man took his life Thursday after trying to escape from police.
LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton said deputies were attempting to arrest Joseph R. Sipple, 27, on charges of possession of stolen property. The confrontation occurred about 1:30 p.m. at a residence south of Sheridan in the northeastern part of the county.

"We received information he was at the residence where we [later] found the proceeds from various local burglaries," Templeton said.

But instead of submitting to arrest, Sipple reportedly ran from deputies and went inside a "lean-to" attached to the garage. Templeton said deputies urged Sipple to surrender, but he killed himself with a semi-automatic handgun inside the lean-to.

Sipple was pronounced dead at the scene about 3 p.m. by the LaSalle County Coroner's office.
Templeton described Sipple as "transient," but said he had been living at the residence where deputies located him. The former Morris resident has a criminal history that includes charges of domestic battery, aggravated battery to a child, possession of drugs and other charges in Grundy County, according to court records.